[eng] Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is one of the deadliest
forms of anthropogenic debris in the marine environment. In this study, we examined
the reasons for the stranding of sea turtles in the Balearic Sea. Despite entanglement
causing the lowest mortality rate in comparison to the other causes, an increasing
trend of their incidence was detected. We categorized the types of marine litter causing
entanglement (n=110) into 7 groups. The most prevalent forms of ghost gear were fish
aggregating devices (FADs) (n=47). A backtracking approach was utilized to identify
the potential origin of the ghost FADs found in the Balearic Sea and general ALDFG
in the Western Mediterranean Basin. Visual marks and backtracking suggest there
was a large proportion of ghost FADs originated in Algerian Exclusive Economic Zones
(EEZ). Nevertheless, ALDFG is present across all the Western Mediterranean, and
their sources potentially involve every coastal country. Overall, the study highlights the
need to address the increasing rate of ghost FADs in conservation plans at a regional
level.